[1] He attended Swarthmore College for one year before studying at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, receiving his LL.B.

At Penn, he served as class president each year, played on the varsity football team, and was a member of the Mask and Wig Club.

Turner served as a sergeant[3] in company G of the First Pennsylvania Reserve Militia during World War I[2] and as a Four Minute Man.

Turner was elected as a Republican to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Delaware County in 1924 and reelected to serve 8 consecutive terms.

[4] He also introduced legislation prohibiting more than one family member from working for the state, a proposal which was aimed at Pinchot's personal secretary (who was married to a clerical worker in the governor's office).